Kane Williamson declines 2024/25 contract, leaves captaincy

Kane Williamson declines 2024/25 contract, leaves captaincy.

Kane Williamson, without a doubt, being one of the greatest New Zealand cricketers to play the game and captain his side has decided to decline a national contract for the 2024/25 season following the Black Cap’s early exit from T20 World Cup.

Since New Zealand suffered a heartbreak due to the early exit in the ongoing T20 World Cup, a lot of speculations were being made.

Although Williamson will continue to play for New Zealand in all three formats- Tests, One-Day and T20 cricket, he has opted to take up a contract outside New Zealand in January, which means he will be unavailable for the home summer.

“Helping push the team forward across the formats is something I’m very passionate about and something I want to keep contributing towards. However, pursuing an overseas opportunity during the New Zealand summer means I’m unable to accept a central contract offer,” Williamson quoted.

New Zealand contract requires players to commit to the national team as well as the domestic competition Super Smash, which runs in January every year. Hence, when international cricket will not be on at the start of the next year, Williamson could be seen playing his trade in any of the three T20 leagues for January – Big Bash League, SA20 and international League 20.

Williamson emphasized that giving up a central contract shouldn’t be understood as a loss of interest in international cricket as the 33-year-old is open to accept more contract in the future.

The giving up of the contract means that Williamson could go to the Trent Boult way, except for Test Cricket as NCZ release mentioned that the former test captain is most likely to be available for New Zealand in potentially all right test matches before Christmas followed by the champions trophy in February-March next year.